Sisters Kate and Greta Stewart have edged up the overall scoreboard in the 29er girl’s class during the third day of the Aon Youth Sailing World Championship following some consistent results in today’s racing off Torbay in Auckland.

Now sitting in 2nd, the New Zealand girl’s team improved throughout three races sailed today with their string of results reading 5,3,2 in the 24-strong fleet.

The Stewart sisters don’t really know where their loyalties lie when it comes to next year’s America’s Cup with father Ian part of the Oracle team this time around but they know exactly what flag they are racing for at this week’s 2016 Aon Youth Sailing World Championships in Auckland.

Kate (18) and Greta (16) are part of a 13-strong New Zealand team competing at the youth world championships off Torbay. The pair claimed bronze in the 29er skiff in Malaysia at the last world event and are a strong medal chance when sailing gets under way on Friday.

Melbourne has turned the breeze up during the last few days, pushing Sailing World Cup Final competitors in St Kilda to their limits.

Yesterday sailors remained ashore as huge winds strengthened to 40 knots across Port Phillip with just the kiteboarding fleet able to race. Today all fleets were able to complete at least one race, with just the 49erFX sailors being held ashore.

As the only New Zealander in the Formula Kite fleet, Sam Bullock (pictured above, Sailing Energy/World Sailing) says conditions have been “intense”.

The Sailing World Cup Final in Melbourne is well underway with New Zealand sailors competing across seven of the fleets.

New Zealand 49er pair Isaac McHardie and William McKenzie put another strong foot forward on day two to retain the lead in their fleet following three races (7,5,1) which reflected their improvement over the day. Other New Zealand pairs Josh Porebski and Trent Rippey, and Nick Egnot-Johnson and Jack Rogers are now sitting in 5th and 9th respectively.